Heating attachment for fan



April 15, 1958 A. w. IRWIN HEATING ATTACHMENT FOR FAN Filed March 5, 1957 Alvin W. Irwin IN VEN TOR.

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HEATING ATTACHMENT FOR FAN Alvin W. Irwin, Wenatchee, Wash.

Application March 5, 1957, Serial No. 644,06il

2 Claims. 01. 219*39 The present invention relates to a simple, practical and economical air heating appliance and has reference to a special adaptation which takes the form of a so-called attachment which lends itself to use on and in conjunction with an electric fan which is provided, as usual, with a cage-like guard.

More specifically, the invention has to do with an attachment for a portable fan having a base or stand equipped with an electric motor operating a bladed fan within the confines of an open-work cage or guard. It it not unusual for those engaged in the line of endeavor under consideration to utilize an adapter of one type or another and to attach it to the guard and to equip it with a resistance coil so that the air currents from the fan will be heated upon coming into contact with the heating coil. One such air heating attachment is shown, for example, in a patent to F. M. Howe et a1. 1,472,124 of October 30, 1923, to which reference may, if desired, be made,

The object of the instant matter is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon the stated patent, analogous patents in the same field of endeavor and on any known attachments and, in doing so, to thus contribute a novel improvement to this art. By the same token, the invention under advisement constitutes an adaptation which, when in use, will meet the expectant needs of users.

Briefly, the invention in its preferred embodiment is characterized by an adapter frame which is applicable to a guard, is detachably mounted on the guard, carries the electrical heating coil or element and also serves as a mount for a protective screen.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional electrical fan showing the improved air heater attachment on the cage of said fan;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation, with a portion broken away and shown in section, of the adapter frame and complemental parts carried thereby;

Fig. 3 is an exaggerated fragmentary section on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the over-all air heating attachment by itself.

With reference to Fig. 1 the conventional electric fan comprises a stand including a base 6, a motor 8 operating a fan 10 in an openwork cage or guard 12.

The aforementioned adapter frame is denoted by the numeral M and as best shown in Fig. 4 comprises a rectangular unit in which the frame members are in the form of angle irons. The inwardly disposed flanges of the frame members are disposed at 16 and the outwardly tates Patent 0 ICC projecting frame members are denoted at 18. This provides a rigid and satisfactory mount for the electric heating element. This is in a form of a resistance coil 20 having its end portions operatively connected at 22 with binding posts on a terminal block 24. The current is fed to the terminal block by electrically connected wires 26 from a conductor or cord 28. The heating coil is strung around the frame and confined, as it were, in the channel provided by the cooperating frame members. In the corner portions of the frame insulation sleeves 30 are provided and the coil is passed through the respective sleeves and held in place in an obvious manner especially as shown in Fig. 3. Also as seen in Fig. 3 there. is a bracket which serves to retain each sleeve in place. The bracket comprises a screw-threaded stud 32 secured by nut 34 and having bendable semi-circular fingers 36 which are bent around the sleeve in a manner to anchor and hold it satisfactorily in its intended coil supporting and insulating position. The numerals 38 designate eyes carrying coil springs 40 having hooks 42 at their free ends which hooks are engaged with coacting members of the guard or cage 12 in the manner seen for instance in Fig. 1. On the exterior corners of the frame socket members 43 are provided. These are arranged and serve to accommodate attaching and retaining prongs 44 on a safety screen 46. Actually the screen comprises a frame 48 with which the right angularly disposed prongs 44 are connected and the frame in turn is provided with reinforcing members 50 which stabilize the screen mesh. The over-all protector screen is denoted at 52.

The adapter frame 14 lends itself to ready attachment to and retention onthe guard 12 and in turn provides a highly satisfactory and practical support for the attachable and detachable protector screen 46.

It will be evident that the invention adequately fulfills the purposes for which it is intended.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for the cage-like guard of an electric fan comprising an adapter frame having means whereby it may be detachably mounted on the front of a guard, an electric heating element mounted within the marginal portions of said frame, a protector screen having means whereby it is detachably mounted on said frame, said frame being provided at its corner portions with individual socket members, and said screen being provided with a marginal frame superimposed against the firstnamed frame and having laterally projecting corner members fitted removably into their respective socket members.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, said frame being made up of angle irons provided in corner portions with bracketed sleeves, said sleeves serving to accommodatingly support cooperating portions of the heating element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,124 Howe et a1. Oct. 30, 1923 1,655,193 Murphy Jan. 3, 1928 2,262,898 MacGregor Nov. 18, 1941 2,274,935 Naul Mar. 3, 1942 2,411,782 Gardes Nov. 26, 1946 

